YOUTH WELLBEING STUDYSCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGYVICTORIA UNIVERSITY OF WELLINGTON

HOSTED BY TAWA COLLEGE, WELLINGTON

Coping with life changes: How to build resilience to face new

challenges

What do these people have in common?

Resilience: Coping through change

Resilience is being able to cope with stress, challenges and catastrophe, and being able to bounce back after difficult times.

What is resilience continued....

How to foster your resilience

Make connectionsAvoid seeing crises as insurmountable problemsAccept that change is part of livingMove toward your goalsTake decisive actionsLook for opportunities for self discoveryNurture a positive view of yourselfKeep things in perspectiveMaintain a helpful outlookTake care of yourself

Stress management

Not manageable e.g. losing a loved one, extreme disaster, etc.

Manageable : e.g. Moving house, health problems

Ongoing relationship conflict Exams etc.

How do you know when you have reached your limit? Mood changes Poor sleep Poor eating habits Negative self-talk Spending less time doing things you enjoy

Using stress management techniques

Know what works for you Talking to someone Exercise Relaxing

Music Reading

Creative outlet Writing Poetry Artwork

Problem solving Identify the problem Brainstorm solutions Rank solutions based on anticipated outcome Follow through with solution Evaluate outcome Did it work? If not => back to brainstorm

Setting goals

Short-, medium- and long-termSet SMART goals e.g. To get fit to run

10km Specific - be able to run 10km by end

of April Measurable - have a measureable target Achievable - fit and healthy, so yes if train Realistic - Others have done it Time-frame - end of the month

Time management

Diary keepingSetting a schedule to meet your goalsGiving yourself rewards for meeting short-,

medium-, and long-term goals

Optimism

When times are hard, do you see the glass as half empty, or half full?

Practicing optimism/modelling for youth Notice the good in things + acknowledge them

Learning from hard times

Keep a record of when you are happy about your progress/achievement in the face of hard times – to remind yourself that you are capable.

Thankfulness journal

Issues particular to adolescents

Brain still developing Particularly pre-fontal cortex (personality + impulse control)

Facade of invincibility... Less experience with long-term consequences...

Not having past experience to draw on.. ..to assist with decision making

Identity formation : who am I? Strength + certainty in knowing your values

IndividuationDeveloping sexuality

Loss of relationships/forming new onesForming strong attachments/relationshipOthers..?

Coping mechanisms demonstrate resilience

Fostering different types of coping in teensInterpersonal coping

Asking for help Ask for distraction A problem shared…

Intrapersonal coping Self-efficacy beliefs/cognitions that foster resilience

“I can do this..”

How do you foster resilience in young people as....

Teachers Messages about achievements – praising effort Scaffolding to students level Recognising achievement – verbal acknowledgement

School support systems e.g. deans, teachers, guidance counsellors, learning support, etc.

Parents Scaffolding – graded praise for increasingly more difficult challenges

over time. Starting small and praising big. Developing insight

“see what YOU did there?” Go through what fosters resilience and what saps resilience

Friends Group challenges; Social support

What not to do

Unhelpful ideologies: Pull your socks up? Get over it?

Adolescent resilience model

Illness related risk1.Uncertainty in Illness2.Disease and Symptom related distress

Family Protective3.Family Atmosphere4.Family Support Resources

Social Protective5.Social Integration6.Health Care Resources

Individual Risk7. Defensive Coping

Outcome:10. Resilience

Outcome:11. Quality of Life

Individual Protective8. Positive Coping

Individual Protective:9. Derived Meaning

Haase, 2004; Hinds & Haase, 2003

Concepts in the Adolescent Resilience Model

Haase, 2004

Places to go for help

Support networks: School support systems Friends Family Guidance counsellor Careers advisor

Counselling services Youth services (e.g. Free or subsidised medical check

ups) Evolve Vibe

See the Resource Sheet available at this session

Resources

Books on resilience: “I’ve had it up to here. From stress to

strength” by Gaynor Parkin and Sarah Boyd, 2008, Consumer NZ

‘Learned Optimism’ by Martin Seligman ‘Man’s search for meaning’ – Viktor E. Frankl John Maclean – inspirational athlete. Nick Vujicic – ‘Life without limits’ biography

of a determined man All Blacks don’t cry: a story of hope

By John Kirwan

Acknowledgements

A BIG Thank you to Tawa College for organising and hosting this education session. Special thanks to Edmund Salem, Murray Lucas, Ravindra Kalpage and the PTA and in particular for their facilitation.

Thank you to the HRC for providing the funding for the Youth Wellbeing Study.